Trailer hitch



2 Sheets-SheelI l f, E m l W Nb 2 I mm l o m m74 A 9 l m l M a 2 a .w aw I l1 mi l v M. ANTICI TRAILER HITCH July 14, 1964 Filed March 27, 1962-sie mi I July '14. 1964 M. ANTlcl 3,140,881

TRAILER HITCH Filed March 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @1T FIG. 5 j 84MARINO ANTICI BY @M071 United States Patent O 3,149,881 TRAILER HTCHMarino Antic, 1404 Rose Circle, Clarrsuale, Miss. Filed Mar. 27, 1962,Ser. No. 182,782 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-473) This invention relates to animproved trailer hitch for vehicles and the like, and more particularlyrelates to a coupling or hitch adapted to connect a trailer or the liketo a vehicle for the towing of the trailer. This is acontinuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 99,876, ledMarch 3l, 1961, now abandoned.

As is known by those familiar with trailer hitches, one of the problemsinvolved in attaching the trailer to the hitch is getting the trailerand the vehicle maneuvered into such a position that the hitch can becoupled to the trailer. This usually involves backing the vehicle intothe general vicinity of the trailer and then pulling the trailer aroundinto an exact position of alignment with the hitch, which is bothtroublesome and time consuming.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the above mentionedand other problems commonly encountered with trailer hitches.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide atrailer hitch including a draw bar that is arranged so that it can bedisengaged from a latched position for free movement to cover aninfinite number of positions within a wide area, whereby the end thereofcan be brought into engagement with the trailer when the trailer is insaid area and without having to move the vehicle.

A further object is to provide such a trailer hitch having shockabsorber means and unique means for connecting the draw bar thereto, sothat the draw bar can be selectively manually disconnected from theshock absorber means to permit free movement thereof for connecting thedraw bar to the trailer and is arranged so that the draw bar willautomatically re-engage with the shock absorber means during the towingof the trailer.

A further object is to provide such a trailer hitch having unique meansfor selectively permitting swing of the draw bar or for locking it in aset position.

A further object is to provide such a trailer hitch which is adapted tobe mounted beneath the rearward portion of a vehicle with the draw barextending through a slot in the rear bumper of the vehicle and arrangedso that the draw bar when not in use is adapted to be moved to a housedposition inside the bounds of the bumper.

A further object is to provide such a trailer hitch provided with aunique lever arrangement for ease of performing the unlatchingoperation.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction oftrailer hitches.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary plan view of the device of the presentinvention, taken as on the line I-I of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the lineIl-II of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line IIL-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line IV-IV of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternate form of the presentinvention, but showing parts of the alternate form in elevation forpurposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the alternate form of the presentinvention.

3,140,881 Patented July 14, 1964 "ice FIG. 7 is a sectional view on anenlarged scale taken as on the line VII-VII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line VHP-VIII ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the carrier of the alternate form of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lever of the alternate form of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, the trailerl hitch 11 of the present invention comprises anelongated and generally horizontally extending hollow casing 13, whichincludes a cylindrical body portion 15 having an end piece 17 iixedlyattached to the rearward end of lthe body portion to close oit therearward end thereof. .An end piece 19 is preferably removably attachedto the forward end of body portion 15 to close off the forward endthereof. As best seen in FlG. l, end piece 19 is preferably removablyattached as by bolt means 21 which extend through apertures in the endpiece and through sleeves 23 that are fixedly attached to body portion15, as by welding or the like. End pieces 17, 19 respectively areprovided with openings Z5, 27 therethrough.

An elongated draw bar 29 extends centrally through casing 13 andprojects slidably outwardly in opposite directions through openings 25,27. Draw bar 29 is provided with a pair of spaced holes 31, 33intermediate the ends thereof, for a purpose later to be described. Inaddition, another hole 35 is provided through draw bar 29 adjacent therearward end thereof to provide means for attaching the trailer thereto.Draw bar 29 is limited in its rearward movement to the position shown inbroken lines in FIG. 1, as by bolt means 37 extending through anadditional hole 39 in draw bar 29 adjacent the forward end thereof.Thus, it will be seen that bolt means 37 engages end piece 19 to limitthe rearward movement of the draw bar, as above described. Body portion15 is provided with a pair of diametric elongated slots 41, 43. Slots41, 43 extend longitudinally of body portion 15, with slot 41 beingadjacent the upper portion of body portion 15, and with slot 43 beingadjacent the lower portion thereof and in vertical alignment with theslot 41.

A vertical pin 45 extends down through slot 41, through hole 31, andthrough slot 43, when draw bar 29 is in a housed position as shown inFIG. 2.

A carrier 47 includes a collar 49 which encircles body portion 15 withthe body portion extending through the collar so that the collar ismovable longitudinally relative to body portion 15. A pair of ears 51are xedly mounted on carrier 47 and project radially outwardlytherefrom, and are adapted to respectively engage a pair of rods 53 tolimit rotation of collar -49 relative to body portion 15. Rods 53 arerespectively in spaced parallel relationship to body portion 15 andfixedly mounted therefrom as by having inwardly bent portions 55 of therods adjacent the opposite ends thereof tixedlyattached to the bodyportion as hy welding or the like. Carrier 47 additionally includes acylindrical neck portion 57 fixedly attached to collar 49 and upstandingtherefrom. Neck portion 57 surrounds an aperture 59 in collar 49.Another aperture 61 is provided in collar 49 adjacent the lower portionthereof and in alignment with aperture 59. When in the housed positionof draw bar 29, as shown in FIG. 2, in addition to extending throughhole 31 and slots 41, 43 as heretofore described, pin 45 extends throughapertures S9, 61. Pin 45 is provided with a head 63 at the upper endthereof which extends over neck portion 57 and removably rests thereuponwhen the pin is in the position best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A handle 65 is xedly attached to head 63 for lifting pin 45 in a mannerlater to be described. Handle 65 is preferably formed from a rod in theshape best seen in FIG. 3 wherein it will be seen the handle extendshorizontally in the mid-portion 67 thereof, thence downwardly onopposite ends of the mid-portion as at portions 69, and thence outwardlyin opposite directions as at portions 71.

Resilient means is provided for urging pin 45 downwardly, and preferablycomprises a spring 'i3 attached adjacent opposite ends to hooks 75, 77which in turn are attached to collar 49. Spring 73 extends through asleeve 79 which in turn is xedly attached to head 63 to transmit theforce of spring 73 to the pin 45.

A pair of springs 81, 83 are disposed in casing 13 with spring 81extending from end piece 17 forwardly and with spring 83 extending fromend piece 19 rearwardly. The adjacent ends of springs 81, 83 are spacedapart so that pin 45 is adapted to be inserted therebetween. In FIG. 2the springs 81, 83 are shown in the at rest position, and it will beunderstood that spring 83 acts as a shock absorber when the draw -bar isurged forwardly and Spring 81 acts as a shock absorber when the draw barVis urged rearwardly. In addition, it will be understood that thisforward and rearward motion is possible since pin 45 can move forwardlyand rearwardly in slots 41, 43 to carry with it carrier 47 which slideslongitudinally on casing 13 and is prevented from turning thereon byrods 53.

Trailer hitch 11 is adapted to be mounted beneath the lower part of avehicle, as for example, beneath the bed 84 of a truck or the like,whose rear bumper is shown as at 85 and which bumper is supported by theusual supports 86 connected to the other parts of the vehicle, notshown. The means for attaching trailer hitch 11 to the vehicle ispreferably by a supporting framework 87, which comprises a transversemember 89 and a pair of side members 91 xedly attached adjacent theopposite ends of transverse member 89 and extending rearwardly indiverging relationship therefrom to their points of attachment withbumper 85. Supporting framework 87 additionally includes a horizontalplate 93 rigidly attached to side members 91 and extending therebetweenadjacent and attached to bumper 85. Plate 93 extends below the rearwardend of casing 13 for a purpose later to be described. Casing 13 isswingably mounted from .transverse member 89 as by means of a bolt means95 extending through an aperture in transverse member 89 and through anaperture in a piece 97, which piece is in turn ixedly attached to casing13 as by welding or the like. Thus, it will be understood, the casing 13is swingably mounted about a vertical axis at bolt 95 to swing in asubstantially horizontal plane to carry the rearward end of draw bar 29in an arc. A suitable support 99 is preferably provided between bed 84and casing 13, and preferably is iixedly mounted as at 101 to the bedand extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a bifurcated endportion as at 103 where it is pivotally attached as by a bolt 105 to apiece 107 that in turn is iixedly attached to the casing. It will beunderstood that the bolt extends through aligned apertures in bifurcatedend 103 and piece 107.

A pair of vertical locking pins 109 respectively slidably extend througha pair of upstanding sleeves 111 that are xedly attached ,to end piece19 adjacent opposite sides thereof. Locking pins 109 are interconnectedadjacent the upper ends thereof by a preferably integrally formedtransverse rod 113. A handgrip 115 is xedly attached to transverserod'113 for manually lifting pins 109 upwardly for a purpose later to bedescribed. Elastic means is provided for urging locking pins 109downwardly and preferably includes la spring 117 loosely extendingthrough the handgrip 115, the upper part of which is preferably in theform of a pipe. The ends of spring 117 are preferably respectivelyattached to sleeves 4 111 as by means of hooks 119 which are fixedlyattached to the sleeves and which engage the ends of the spring.

Plate 93 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 121 which areadapted to respectively receive pins 109 to lock the casing 13 in acenter or longitudinal position relative to framework 87 and relative tothe truck, not shown.

Bumper is provided with a slot 123 therethrough and through which drawbar 29 is adapted to extend. The slot 123 is of sufficient length topermit swing through a substantial arc (as shown by the dotted lines inFIG. 1) of draw bar 29 with the draw bar extending through the slot.

Assuming that trailer hitch 11 is in the housed position, in using thetrailer hitch the operator reaches beneath truck bed 84 and pullsupwardly on handle 65 to withdraw pin 45 from hole 31, and while the pinis withdrawn the draw bar 29 is moved rearwardly to the desired rearwardposition. Then, to swing draw bar 29 to the desired lateral position, itwill be understood that the operator merely pulls upward on handgrip towithdraw locking pins 109 from apertures 121 so that the casing 13 andthe draw bar 29 are free to swing. With locking pins 109 and pin 45withdrawn as above described, it will be understood that the rearwardend of draw bar 29 may be placed anywhere desired within the workingarea which is rearward of bumper 85 and bounded by the dashed line arcshown in FIG. 1. It is only necessary to back the vehicle up to thegeneral vicinity of the trailer tongue and then by maneuvering the drawbar 29 as above described it can be brought into alignment with thetrailer tongue and hitched thereto Without any diculty and very quickly.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when hand-grip 115 isreleased, locking pins 109 will engage the upper surface of horizontalplate 93 and will slide thereon to permit the draw bar 29 to swing ashereinabove described. Additionally, it will be understood that whenhandle 65 is released, pin 45 will be urged against the upper surface ofdraw bar 29 so that the drawbar can slide relative thereto, as abovedescribed.

After draw bar 29 has been connected to the trailer tongue, not shown,the vehicle is driven off to tow the trailer, and the trailer hitch 11will become automatically engaged in the towing position which is shownin solid lines in FIG. 1. It will be understood that this engagementwill take place to center the trailer hitch when the draw bar 29 andcasing 13 swings back into a center position relative to the vehiclesince locking pins 109, which have been sliding on plate 93 as abovedescribed, enter the apertures 121. This will occur when the vehicle andthe trailer are in substantial fore and aft alignment. Also, it will beunderstood that the pin 45 will enter hole 33 to lock the draw bar 29lengthwise in said towing position when the vehicle slows down, as whenchanging gears, or when the vehicle comes to a stop.

Referring now to the alternate form of the present invention shown inFIGS. 5-10, the trailer hitch 125 of the alternate form comprises anelongated and generally horizontally extending rigid and hollow casing127 which includes a body portion 129, preferably formed of four spacedangle members adjacent the corners thereof, that is, a pair ofhorizontally extending and spaced angle members 131 and a pair of spacedlower angle members 133. In other words, angle members 131 and 133extend in parallel relationship longitudinally of the device and faceinwardly. Casing 127 additionally includes ends and 137 at the oppositeends of body portion 129 to hold the angle members 131, 133 in xedrelationship to establish the rigid casing. Rearward end 135 ispreferably forrned of a pair of transverse angle members 139, 141 whichare respectively xedly attached to the rearward ends of upper anglemembers 131 and lower angle members 133. Angle members 139, 141 arespaced apart and a pair of laterally spaced plates 145, 147 fxedlyinterconnect the angle members 139, 141 and establish with the anglemembers 139, 141 an opening 149. Forward end 137 is preferably removablyattached to the forward end of body portion 129 to close olf the forwardend thereof, and an opening 151 substantially in alignment with opening149 is provided through end 137. The means for removable attaching end137 is preferably by a pair of angle members 153 iixedly attached onopposite sides of casing 127 and by bolt means 155 which extend throughapertures in the end 137 and angle members 153.

An elongated draw bar 157, substantially like draw bar 29, extendscentrally through casing 127 and projects slidably outwardly in oppositedirections through openings 149, 151. Draw bar 157 is provided with apair of spaced holes 159, 161 as in the principal embodiment and isotherwise constructed in the same manner.

A vertical pin 163, corresponding to pin 45, extends down through thespace or slot 165 formed between angle members 131 and is movablysupported by a carrier 167 which is slidably mounted on the interior ofcasing 127 for forward and rearward movement and is arranged to permitpin 163 to move vertically. Carrier 167 comprises spaced transverselyextending upper members 169 rigidly interconnected to spacedtransversely extending lower members 171 by transversely spacedupstanding members 173. A pair of transversely spaced upstanding pieces175 are iixedly attached between upper members 169 and extendthereabove. When carrier 167 is in assembled relationship with casing127, the carrier slidably rests on angle members 133, and it will beunderstood that the carrier is permitted to move forwardly andrearwardly, but is limited against any substantial upward, downward,sidewise or twisting movement by the angle members 131, 133. Pin 163 isprovided with a transversely elongated head 177 which projects outwardlybeyond opposite sides of the casing, as best seen in FIG. 8. Pin 163extends downwardly between upstanding pieces 175 and when draw bar 157is in the housed position, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower endof the pin additionally extends through hole 159 where the pin islimited in its downward movement by contact of head 177 with the upperend of pieces 175. Pin 163 is urgeddownwardly by means of a pair ofsprings 179 which are attached adjacent the upper ends thereof to theopposite ends of head 177 and attached adjacent the lower ends thereofto casing 127 by means of a transverse member 131 xedly attached to thebottom of the casing and extending outwardly beyond the sides thereofbeneath head 177. It will be understood that head 177 can be grasped towithdraw the pin 163 upwardly, as in the principal embodiment. However,the following arrangement is preferably provided for making thewithdrawal of the pin easier. This arrangement includes a lever 133,best seen in FIG. l0, which includes a pair of spaced elongated legs 185which are bent upwardly as at 1157 adjacent the rearward ends thereofwith the distal ends being rigidly interconnected by means of atransverse piece 189. Lever 183 straddles casing 127 and is pivotallyattached thereto as by means of rings 191 which are lixedly attached, asby welding, adjacent opposite sides of the casing and through whichloosely extend the forward ends of legs 185. Cotter keys 193 extendthrough bores in the rearward ends of legs 135 to prevent lever 183 fromseparating from the casing. Legs 185 are provided with a pair ofupwardly extending projections 194 intermediate the ends of the legs.Legs 185 extend from their points of pivotal attachment with the casing,as heretofore described, rearwardly and downwardly towards the rearwardend of the trailer hitch 125 and thence extend upwardly as at 137 sothat transverse piece 189 is located adjacent the rearward end of thetrailer hitch, where it is easily accessible and may be pulled upwardlyinto raised positions, one of which is illustrated in broken lines inFIG. 5. Upward pull, as above described, on lever 133 causes projections194 to contact opposite ends of head 177 and to lift the head and pin163 so that the pin may be withdrawn from the holes 159, 161 in draw bar157, whereby the trailer hitch is operable in a similar manner to thatheretofore described for the principal embodiment.

A pair 0f springs 195, 1%, corresponding to springs 81, 83, respectivelyextend between rearward end and carrier 167, and between forward end 137and carrier 167. Springs 195, 196 are preferably under a slight amountof compression to prevent rattling of the parts.

Trailer hitch 125 is adapted to be mounted beneath the lower part of avehicle in the same manner as the principal embodiment, and the mountingmeans, parts of the vehicle, bumper, etc. have been designated by thesame numerals as used to describe the principal embodiment.

Trailer hitch 125 is provided with a pair of vertical locking pins 197,corresponding to locking pins 1119 of the principalV embodiment, whichrespectively slidably extend through aligned apertures 119 in anglemembers 139, 141. Locking pins 197 are interconnected adjacent the upperends thereof by a transverse rod 2111, which serves as a handgrip formanually lifting pins 137. Elastic means is provided for urging lockingpins 197 downwardly and preferably includes springs 2113 respectivelyattached adjacent the upper ends thereof to opposite ends of transverserod 2111 and respectively attached adjacent the lower ends thereof toopposite ends of the angle member 141. A stop 2115 is ixedly attached toone of pins 197 and adapted to engage angle member 141 to limit downwardmovement of pins 197.

The general overall operation of trailer hitch 125 is substantially thesame as the operation of the trailer hitch 11 and, therefore, it is notdeemed necessary to repeat same. However, it should be pointed out thatin the trailer hitch 125, transverse rod 2111 and transverse piece 189are adjacent one another for convenience and both are rearwardly of bed84 so that they are easily accessible and there is no necessity forreaching under the bed to withdraw vertical pin 163. In addition, itshould be pointed out that release of lever 133 from its upward positionwill cause the lever to return to a downward position, shown in FIG. 5,under the influence of gravity.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that a very uniquetrailer hitch is provided that includes a draw bar which is so arrangedthat it can be disengaged from a latched position to cover an innitenumber of positions within a wide area, whereby the end thereof can bebrought into engagement with a trailer when the trailer is in said areaand without having to move the trailer. In addition, it will beunderstood that such a trailer hitch is provided which automaticallyengages the shock absorb-er means during the towing of the trailer, andwhich automatically engages the casing in a towing position duringtowing of the trailer.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, it isto be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes andmodiiications may be made therein which are within the full intendedscope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing including a bodyportion and a pair of end pieces xedly attached to said body portionadjacent the opposite ends thereof, said end pieces being provided withaligned openings therethrough, a draw bar slidably extending throughsaid casing and projecting outwardly in opposite directions through saidopenings, said draw bar having a` pair of spaced holes intermediate theends thereof, said body portion being provided with diametric elongatedslots therethrough, a pin, yieldable means urging said pin towards alatched position relative to said draw bar, when in said latchedposition said pin removably extending through said slots and through atleast one of said holes to latch said draw bar, when said pin extendsthrough i? one of said holes said draw bar being held in a retractedposition and when said pin extends through the other of said holes saiddraw bar being held in an extended position, carrier means supportingsaid pin from said casing for movement of said pin lengthwise in saidslots andfor movement of said pin substantially perpendicular to saiddraw bar, a rst resilient means in said casing on one side of said pinto act as a shock absorber in one direction and a second resilient meansin said casing on the opposite side of said pin to act as a shockabsorber in the opposite direction, handle means attached to said pinfor withdrawing said pin against the force of said yieldable means fromsaid latched position to an unlatched position in which said pin iswithdrawn from one of said slots and from said holes to a positionoutside of said draw bar sothat said draw bar is free to be movedbetween said retracted and extended positions and outwardly beyond saidextended position to further extended positions, when said handle meansis released said yieldable means urging said pin against said draw barso that when said draw bar is moved to align one of said holes with saidpin said pin automatically latches said draw bar, means attached to saidcasing for swingably mounting said casing from a vehicle for movement ina substantially horizontal plane so that said draw bar can be swungtherewith in a substantially horizontal arc, a substantially horizontalplate supported beneath said casing adjacent one end thereof, said platebeing provided with at least one aperture therethrough, at least onelocking pin, means supporting said locking pin from said casing forvertical movement between a locked position and an unlocked position,when in said locked position said locking pin removably extending intosaid aperture to lock said casing against swinging movement relative tosaid plate, when in said unlocked position said locking pin beingwithdrawn from said aperture so that said casing and said draw bar arefree to swing horizontally, elastic means attached to said locking pinto urge said locking pin towards said locked position, grip meansattached to said locking pin for withdrawing said locking pin againstthe force of said elastic means from said locked position to saidunlocked position, when said grip means is released said elastic meansurging said locking pin against said plate so that when said casing andsaid draw bar are swung to align said locking pin with said aperturesaid locking pin automatically locks said casing and said draw baragainst swinging movement.

2. The structure according to claim 1 in which at least one rod ismounted on said body portion and extending longitudinally thereof, andat least one ear means is mounted on said carrier means for engagingsaid rod to prevent turning of said carrier means.

3. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing including oppositeends, said casing being provided with aligned openings in said ends, adraw bar slidably extending through said openings in said casing, saiddraw bar having at least one hole therein, said casing having at leastone elongated slot therethrough, a pin, yieldable means urging said pintowards a latched position relative to said draw bar, when in saidlatched position said pin removably extending through said slot andthrough said hole to latch said draw bar, when said pin extends throughsaid hole said draw bar being held in an extended position, a iirstresilient means in said casing on one side of said pin to act as a shockabsorber in one direction and a second resilient means in said casing onthe opposite side of said pin to act as a shock absorber in the oppositedirection, handle means attached to said pin for withdrawing said pinagainst the force of said yieldable means from said latched position toan unlatched position in which said pin is withdrawn from said slot andsaid hole to a position outside of said draw bar so that said draw baris free to be moved between retracted and extended positions andoutwardly beyond said extended position to further extended positions,when said handle means is reantitesi leased said yieldable means urgingsaid pin against said draw bar so that when said draw bar is moved toalign said hole with said pin said pin automatically latches said drawbar, means attached to said casing for swingably mounting said casingfrom a vehicle for movement in a substantially horizontal plane so thatsaid draw bar can be swung therewith in a substantially horizon-tal arc,a substantially horizontal plate supported beneath said casing adjacentone end thereof, said plate being provided with at least one aperturetherethrough, at least one locking pin, means supporting said lockingpin from said casing for vertical movement between a locked position andan unlocked position, when in said locked position said locking pinremovably extending into said aperture to lock said casing againstswinging movement relative to said plate, when in said unlocked positionsaid locking pin being withdrawn from said aperture so that said casingand said draw bar are free to swing horizontally, elastic means`attached to said locking pin to urge said locking pin towards saidlocked position, grip means attached to said locking pin for withdrawingsaid locking pin against the force of said elastic means from saidlocked position to said unlocked position, when said grip means isreleased said elastic means urging said locking pin against said plateso that when said casing and said draw bar are swung to align saidlocking pin with said aperture said locking pin automatically locks saidcasing and said draw bar against swinging movement.

4. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing provided withopenings adjacent opposite ends thereof, a draw bar slidably extendingthrough said casing and projecting outwardly in opposite directionsthrough said openings, said draw bar being provided with at least onehole therein, said casing being provided with at least one elongatedslot therethrough, a pin, yieldable means urging said pin towards alatched position relative to said draw bar, when in said latchedposition said pin removably extending through said slot and through saidhole to latch said draw bar, when said pin extends through said holesaid draw bar being held in an extended position, carrier meanssupporting said pin from said casing for movement of said pin lengthwisein said slot and for movement of said pin substantially perpendicular tosaid draw bar, a first resilient means in said casing on one side ofsaid pin to act as a shock absorber in one direction and a secondresilient means in said casing on the opposite side of said pin to actas a shock absorber in the opposite direction, handle means attached tosaid pin for withdrawing said pin against the force of said yieldablemeans from said latched position to an unlatched position in which saidpin is withdrawn from said hole to a position outside of said draw barso that said draw bar is free to be moved between retracted and extendedpositions and outwardly beyond said extended position to furtherextended positions, when said handle means is released said yieldablemeans urging said pin against said draw bar so that when said draw baris moved to align said hole with said pin said pin automatically latchessaid draw bar.

5. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing provided withaligned openings adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a draw bar slidablyextending through said casing and projecting outwardly in oppositedirections through said openings, said draw bar having a pair of spacedholes intermediate the ends thereof, said casing being provided with anelongated slot therethrough, a pin, yieldable means urging said pintowards a latched position relative to said draw bar, when in saidlatched position said pin removably extending through said slot andthrough at least one of said holes to latch said draw bar, when said pinextends through one of said holes said draw bar being held in aretracted position and when said pin extends through the other of saidholes said draw bar being held in an extended position, carrier meanssupporting said pin from said casing for movement of said pin lengthwisein said slot and for movement of said pin substantially perpendicular tosaid draw bar, a first resilient means in said casing on one side ofsaid pin to act as a shock absorber in one direction and a secondresilient means in said casing on the opposite side of said pin to actas a shock absorber in the opposite direction, handle means attached tosaid pin for Withdrawing said pin against the force of said yieldablemeans from said latched position to an unlatched position in which saidpin is withdrawn from said holes to a position outside of said draw barso that said draw bar is free to be moved between said retracted andextended positions and outwardly beyond said extended position tofurther extended positions, when said handle means is released saidyieldable means urging said pin against said draw bar so that when saiddraw bar is moved to align one of said holes with said pin said pinautomatically latches said draw bar, means attached to said casing forswingably mounting said casing from a vehicle for movement in asubstantially horizontal plane so that said draw bar can be swungtherewith in a substantially horizontal arc, a substantially horizontalplate supported beneath said casing adjacent one end thereof, said platebeing provided with at least one aperture therethrough, at least onelocking pin, means supporting said locking pin from said casing forvertical movement between a locked position and an unlocked position,when in said locked position said locking pin removably extending intosaid aperture to lock said casing against swinging movement relative tosaid plate, when in said unlocked position said locking pin beingwithdrawn from said aperture so that said casing and said draw bar arefree to swing horizontally, elastic means attached to said locking pinto urge said locking pin toward said locked position, grip meansattached to said locking pin lfor withdrawing said locking pin againstthe force of said elastic means from said locked position to saidunlocked position, when said grip means is released said elastic meansurging said locking pin against said plate so that when said casing andsaid draw bar are swung to align said locking pin with said aperturesaid locking pin automatically locks said casing and said draw baragainst swinging movement.

6. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing, a draw bar slidablysupported in said casing, said draw bar being provided with at least onehole therein, a pin, yieldable means urging said pin towards a latchedposition relative to said draw bar, when in said latched position saidpin removably extending through said hole to latch said draw bar, whensaid pin extends through said hole said draw bar being held in anextended position relative to said casing, means movably supporting saidpin from said casing for movement of said pin lengthwise of said casing,a first resilient means in said casing on one side of said pin to act asa shock absorber in one direction and a second resilient means in saidcasing on the opposite side of said pin to act as a shock absorber inthe opposite direction, means operably coupled to said pin forwithdrawing said pin against the force of said yieldable means from saidlatched position to an unlatched position in which said pin is withdrawnfrom said hole to a position outside of said draw bar so that said drawbar is free to be moved between retracted and extended positions andoutwardly beyond said extended position to further extended positions,when said means operably coupled to said pin is released said yieldablemeans urging said pin against said draw bar so that when said draw baris moved to align said hole with said pin said pin automatically latchessaid draw bar.

7. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing, a draw bar slidablysupported in said casing, said draw bar being provided with at least onehole therein, a pin, yieldable means urging said pin towards a latchedposition relative to said draw bar, when in said latched position saidpin removably extending through said hole to latch said draw bar, whensaid pin extends through said hole said draw bar being held in anextended position, means movably supporting said pin from said casingfor movement of said pin lengthwise of said casing, a rst resilientmeans in said casing on one side of said pin to act as a shock absorberin one direction and a second resilient means in said casing on theopposite side of said pin to act as a shock absorber in the oppositedirection, a head attached to said pin and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a lever adapted to engage said head, said lever beingpivotally attached to said casing for pivoting movement between raisedand lowered positions, when in said raised position said lever engagingsaid head to lift said head and withdraw said pin against the force ofsaid yieldable means from said latched position to an unlatched positionin which said pin is withdrawn from said hole to a position outside ofsaid draw bar so that said draw bar is free to be moved betweenretracted and extended positions and outwardly beyond said extendedpositions, when said lever is released said yieldable means urging saidpin against said draw bar so that when said draw bar is moved to alignsaid hole With said pin said pin automatically latches said draw bar.

8. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing including oppositeends, a draw bar slidably supported in said casing, said draw bar beingprovided with at least one hole therein, a pin, yieldable means urgingsaid pin towards a latched position relative to said draw bar, when insaid latched position said pin removably extending into said hole tolatch said draw bar, when said pin extends into said hole said draw barbeing held in an extended position, carrier means slidably mounted insaid casing and movably supporting said pin for movement with saidcarrier means longitudinally of said casing and for movement of said pinin a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinalmovement, a first resilient means in said casing extending between oneof said ends of said casing and one side of said carrier means to act asa shock absorber in one direction and a second resilient means in saidcasing extending between the other of said ends of said casing and theother side of said carrier means to act as a shock absorber in theopposite direction, a head attached to said pin and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a lever adapted to engage said head, said lever beingpivotally attached to said casing for pivoting movement between raisedand lowered positions, when in said raised position said lever engagingsaid head to lift said head and withdraw said pin against the force ofsaid yieldable means from said latched position to an unlatched positionin which said pin is withdrawn from said hole to a position outside ofsaid draw bar so that said draw bar is free to be moved betweenretracted and extended positions and outwardly beyond said extendedposition to further extended positions, when said lever is released saidyieldable means urging said pin against said draw bar so that when saiddraw bar is moved to align said hole with said pin said pinautomatically latches said draw bar.

9. A trailer hitch for vehicles comprising a casing, a draw bar slidablysupported in said casing, said draw bar being provided with at least onehole therein, a pin, yieldable means urging said pin towards a latchedposition relative to said draw bar, when in said latched position saidpin removably extending through said hole to latch said draw bar, whensaid pin extends through said hole said draw bar being held in anextended position relative to said casing, means movably supporting saidpin relative to said casing for movement of said pin lengthwise of saidcasing, said last-mentioned means including a portion in said casing, aiirst resilient means in said casing on one side of said portion to actas a shock absorber in one direction and a second resilient means insaid casing on the opposite side of said portion to act as a shockabsorber in the opposite direction, means operably coupled to said pinfor withdrawing said pin against the force of said yieldable means fromsaid latched position to an unlatched position in which said pin iswithdrawn from said hole to a position outside of said draw bar so thatsaid draw bar is free to be moved between retracted and extendedpositions and outwardly beyond said extended position to furtherextended positions, When said means operably coupled to said pin isreleased said yieldable means urging said pin against said draw bar sothat when said draw bar is moved to align said hole with said pin saidpin automatically latches said draw bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS CadmanMay 20, 1919 Eckertz July 11, 1922 Schrum Apr. 22, 1924 Robinson Dec.29, 1931 Carson June 13, 1961

1. A TRAILER HITCH FOR VEHICLES COMPRISING A CASING INCLUDING A BODYPORTION AND A PAIR OF END PIECES FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTIONADJACENT THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID END PIECES BEING PROVIDED WITHALIGNED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, A DRAW BAR SLIDABLY EXTENDING THROUGHSAID CASING AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS THROUGH SAIDOPENINGS, SAID DRAW BAR HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED HOLES INTERMEDIATE THEENDS THEREOF, SAID BODY PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH DIAMETRIC ELONGATEDSLOTS THERETHROUGH, A PIN, YIELDABLE MEANS URGING SAID PIN TOWARDS ALATCHED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID DRAW BAR, WHEN IN SAID LATCHEDPOSITION SAID PIN REMOVABLY EXTENDING TO LATCH SAID DRAW BAR, WHEN SAIDPIN EXTENDS THROUGH THROUGH SAID SLOTS AND THROUGH AT LEAST ONE OF SAIDHOLES ONE OF SAID HOLES SAID DRAW BAR BEING HELD IN A RETRACTED POSITIONAND WHEN SAID PIN EXTENDS THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID HOLES SAID DRAW BARBEING HELD IN AN EXTENDED POSITION, CARRIER MEANS SUPPORTING SAID PINFROM SAID CASING FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID PIN LENGTHWISE IN SAID SLOTS ANDFOR MOVEMENT OF SAID PIN SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID DRAW BAR, AFIRST RESILIENT MEANS IN SAID CASING ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PIN TO ACT AS ASHOCK ABSORBER IN ONE DIRECTION AND A SECOND RESILIENT MEANS IN SAIDCASING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PIN TO ACT AS A SHOCK ABSORBER INTHE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, HANDLE MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID PIN FORWITHDRAWING SAID PIN AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID YIELDABLE MEANS FROM SAIDLATCHED POSITION TO AN UNLATCHED POSITION IN WHICH SAID PIN IS WITHDRAWNFROM ONE OF SAID SLOTS AND FROM SAID HOLES TO A POSITION OUTSIDE OF SAIDDRAW BAR SO THAT SAID DRAW BAR IS FREE TO BE MOVED BETWEEN SAIDRETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS AND OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID EXTENDEDPOSITION TO FURTHER EXTENDED POSITIONS, WHEN SAID HANDLE MEANS ISRELEASED SAID YIELDABLE MEANS URGING SAID PIN AGAINST SAID DRAW BAR SOTHAT WHEN SAID DRAW BAR IS MOVED TO ALIGN ONE OF SAID HOLES WITH SAIDPIN SAID PIN AUTOMATICALLY LATCHES SAID DRAW BAR, MEANS ATTACHED TO SAIDCASING FOR SWINGABLY MOUNTING SAID CASING FROM A VEHICLE FOR MOVEMENT INA SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE SO THAT SAID DRAW BAR CAN BE SWUNGTHEREWITH IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL ARC, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALPLATE SUPPORTED BENEATH SAID CASING ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, SAID PLATEBEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE APERTURE THERETHROUGH, AT LEAST ONELOCKING PIN, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID LOCKING PIN FROM SAID CASING FORVERTICAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A LOCKED POSITION AND AN UNLOCKED POSITION,WHEN IN SAID LOCKED POSITION SAID LOCKING PIN REMOVABLY EXTENDING INTOSAID APERTURE TO LOCK SAID CASING AGAINST SWINGING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TOSAID PLATE, WHEN IN SAID UNLOCKED POSITION SAID LOCKING PIN BEINGWITHDRAWN FROM SAID APERTURE SO THAT SAID CASING AND SAID DRAW BAR AREFREE TO SWING HORIZONTALLY, ELASTIC MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID LOCKING PINTO URGE SAID LOCKING PIN TOWARDS SAID LOCKED POSITION, GRIP MEANSATTACHED TO SAID LOCKING PIN FOR WITHDRAWING SAID LOCKING PIN AGAINSTTHE FORCE OF SAID ELASTIC MEANS FROM SAID LOCKED POSITION TO SAIDUNLOCKED POSITION, WHEN SAID GRIP MEANS IS RELEASED SAID ELASTIC MEANSURGING SAID LOCKING PIN AGAINST SAID PLATE SO THAT WHEN SAID CASING ANDSAID DRAW BAR ARE SWUNG TO ALIGN SAID LOCKING PIN WITH SAID APERTURESAID LOCKING PIN AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS SAID CASING AND SAID DRAW BARAGAINST SWINGING MOVEMENT.